The Portland daily press., 1887-05-18
CITY GOVERN MENT.
Special Meeting of the Board Of
Mayor and Aldermen.
The cIty's Gas ck-suspensIon of
Officer Lawton.

A special meeting of the Board of Mayor
and Aldermen was held at five o'clock yes
terday afternoon. All members were
present, Mayor Chapman presiding
THE cITY's GAS sToCR.
The Mayor stated that the meeting had
been called for the purpose of taking action
in regard to a representation of the city's
interest in the gas company on the board OF
directors of that corporation.
Alderman Smith thought that the city,
holding 1900 shares, should be represented
In the directors of the company. A vacancy
now exists in the board Of directors caused
by the death of Hon. Ezra Carter.
1t was voted that the city gas agent attend
the meeting Of the stockholders of the gas
company and request that one director be
appointed from this Board, and that he be
instructed to cast the vote of the city's ln-
terest for Alderman Briggs, the gas agent
SUSPENSION OF OFFICER LAYTON.
The Mayor stated that some time ago Po-
lice Officer Lawton was suspended by the
City Marshal. The matter came before the
committee en- police, who had hearing in
the case and voted, two to one, not to rein
state the officer. Mr.. Lawton has not de-
manded hearing before the full Board.
The Mayor laid the case before the Board in
order that they might express their wishes as
to giving the officer public hearing IL he
demanded it, The marshal and the deputy
marshalls were unanimous in their opinion
that Officer Lawton's reinstatement would
be detrimental to the force.
Aldermen Mcmahon and Smith made
brief statements in reference to the case
Mr.. McMahon said that he couldn't see any
charge against the man. There was only
one simple thing and that wasn't much-that
he was not obedent to his superior officers.
Mr. Mcmahon said that of course man
should be respectful to his superiors, but
some officers wanted so much respect that 4
man couldn't attend to it, He regarded Mr..
Lawton as an efficient officer.
Alderman Smith said that he had voted
not 10 renstate Mr.. LawtOn because the
marshal and his deputies had laid it before
the committee that the man was not good
officer. He considered the charge of derelic-
tlon of duty on Centre steeet confirmed and
would vote TO suspend any officer on such
testimony, and the unanimous recommends
ton Of the heads of the force.
The Mayor said that there was no particu-
lar chance for discussion then, the question
being on the matter of hearing. Perhaps
the management OF the police force has
been too lenient Complaints are being
made as to the ineffiSieney of the force, and
there is a disposition among some of the
members TO critcise their superior officers
and the measures adopted by the city gov
eminent to increase the efficiency of the de-
partment.
On motion of Alderman Marks it was
voted that the action of the committee be
sustained and the officer not reinstated.
OTHER MATTERS
Silas f. liamin and John H. Sayward
were appointed special policemen without
pay.
Alderman Wilson brought up the matter
of the condition of the Eastern Promenade.
1t seems that the public grounds there have
been turned into COW pasture and a lot of
hoOdlums make a practice of pulling up the
seats and destroying them. This sort OF
thing will be prevented in the future. The
special policeman appointed for the prone
made could not serve but another man win
soon be given the place.
The order from the lower board. request
ing the Mayor to confer with the City Solic-
itor in regard to the disposition of premiums
on the new city bonds was taken from the
table. The Mayor stated that nothing had
been done without consultation with the
Solicitor and action on the order was indef-
nitely postponed.
The recorder of the Municipal Court pre-
scented his statement of the number of cases
and amount of costs in that court during
April.
The Board then adjourned.